The modern city of Luxor, located in Upper Egypt, encompasses the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. Known as “the palaces” in Arabic, Luxor has earned the title of the “world’s greatest open-air museum” due to the presence of the Egyptian temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor within the city limits. Across the River Nile lies the west bank Theban Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, and adds to the city’s cultural and historical significance. Tourists from all over the world flock to Luxor annually to visit these monuments, which greatly contribute to the city’s economy. With a population of 422,407 (as of 2021) and an area of around 417 km2 (161 sq mi), Luxor is the capital of Luxor Governorate and is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.

Visiting Luxor for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Luxor on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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This complete guide to Luxor not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Luxor and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

Luxor Temple

The Luxor Temple, which was constructed around 1400 BCE, is an extensive temple complex situated on the east bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt (formerly known as Thebes). The temple was referred to as ipet resyt in the Egyptian language, meaning “the southern sanctuary”, and was one of the two primary temples on […]

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Location: Luxor Temple, Luxor City, Luxor, Egypt | Distance: 1.40km

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Visiting Luxor Temple

Karnak Temple Complex

Karnak Temple Complex, also known as Karnak, is a large collection of ruined temples, pylons, chapels, and other structures located near Luxor, Egypt. The site was originally named Ipet-isut, meaning “The Most Selected of Places,” and was the primary location of worship for the Theban Triad of the 18th Dynastic period, with Amun as its […]

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Location: Karnak Temple Complex, Karnak, Luxor, Egypt | Hours: 6am-6pm | Price: adult/student LE120/60, incl open-air museum LE150/75 | Distance: 3.90km

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Visiting Karnak Temple Complex

Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings, also known as Wādī Al-Mulūk or Wādī Bībān al-Mulūk in Arabic, is a long and narrow defile located just to the west of the Nile River in Upper Egypt. It was a significant part of the ancient city of Thebes and served as the burial site for almost all the […]

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Location: Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt | Distance: 7.00km

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Visiting Valley of the Kings